Autologous Plasmin-Assisted Vitrectomy for Stage 5 Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Preliminary Trial

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of autologous plasmin (AP)-assisted vitrectomy for stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Design Interventional case series. Methods Six consecutive eyes of four children with stage 5 ROP were treated. The patients' ages at the surgery ranged from five to eight months after birth. Four eyes showed closed-closed configuration and two eyes showed open-open configuration. After lensectomy and dissection of the anterior proliferative membrane, 0.03 to 0.22 International Unit (IU) of AP was administrated into the vitreous cavity. After 15 to 30 minutes of incubation, the proliferative membrane was treated. Results The proliferative membrane was removed successfully without iatrogenic retinal break. Complete reattachment of the posterior pole retina was achieved in all six eyes (100%). No obvious complication was observed in the follow-up period, which ranged from 11 to 14 months. Conclusions These results suggest the benefit of AP in the vitrectomy for treatment of stage 5 ROP.